Relating to social studies instruction provided to students enrolled in grades seven through twelve, and including applicability provisions

Sponsored by the House Education (companion To Sf 2121 By Evans) Committee

Topics:K–12 education

Same legislation: HSB 594, SF 2121, SF 2413

Write your legislators about it

Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedJanuary 21, 2026
Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 21, 2026
Done: House committeeJanuary 28, 2026
Done: Passes the HouseMarch 3, 202670–26
Done: Senate committeeMarch 19, 2026
Stopped: Passes the SenateDied when the General Assembly ended
Next: To the Governor
Next: Signed into law

Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary Students in grades 7 through 12 at public, private, charter, and innovation zone schools will receive more instruction on civics and the United States government. For 7th and 8th graders, the law would require teaching both civics and government for at least half a semester. High school students would also see changes, as they would be required to study both subjects and spend more time learning about the United States government.¹

Read the official explanation

This bill relates to social studies instruction provided to students enrolled in grades 7 through 12. Current law requires that the social studies instruction provided to students enrolled in school districts and accredited nonpublic schools in grades seven and eight include instruction related to civics. The bill requires that the social studies instruction provided to students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools in grades seven and eight also include instruction related to United States government. The instruction related to civics and United States government must be at least one-half semester, or the trimester or quarter equivalent. Current law requires school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to offer and teach one-half unit of United States government instruction as part of the required five units of social studies instruction in grades 9 through 12. The bill requires that the United States government instruction provided to students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools in grades 9 through 12 also include instruction related to civics, and increases the offer and teach requirement from one-half unit to one unit. The bill applies to school years beginning on or after July 1, 2028.

Why it matters. Students in grades seven through 12 at school districts, charter schools, innovation zone schools, and accredited nonpublic schools would receive more instruction in United States government and civics. These schools would be required to increase the amount of United States government instruction from one-half unit to one unit for students in grades through 12.²

Changed since by amendment H-8076; see Amendments.

Full bill text³

House subcommittee

Named January 21, 2026 (as HSB 594). On January 22, 2026 it recommended passage.

Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part

1 written public comment to its subcommittee: January 22, 2026 (1) · on the Legislature’s site

Fiscal note

AI summary This bill changes requirements for school districts, charter schools, innovation zone schools, and nonpublic schools to include instruction in U.S. government and civics. The fiscal impact of this bill cannot be estimated.⁴

Read the fiscal note

Description

House File 2244 amends offer and teach requirements related to social studies instruction for school districts, charter schools, innovation zone schools, and nonpublic schools to include U.S. government and civics instruction. The Bill applies to school years beginning on or after July 1, 2028 (FY 2029).

Fiscal Impact

The introduced version of House File 2244 required a Fiscal Note that included an undetermined fiscal impact. House File 2244 was amended by the House on March 3, 2026, and the Bill no longer requires a Fiscal Note.

High School Social Studies Curricula, Government · March 5, 2026
High School Social Studies Curricula, Government · March 2, 2026

Reading a fiscal note⁵

Iowa Code it changes

Amends§256.11 §256E.7 §256F.4

How the Code works⁶

Lobbying

8 for · 0 against · 10 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Study bill

HSB 594Renumbered

91st General Assembly

SF 2121RenumberedSenate companion HF 2244Passed a chamberfrom HSB 594 SF 2413Cleared committeefrom SF 2121

Notes

The summary is written by an AI model from the official explanation. It can miss details; the explanation and the bill are what count. ↩
Written by an AI model from the official explanation and fiscal note only, for bills that passed a chamber, drew heavy lobbying or carry a large cost. It doesn’t weigh whether the bill is a good idea. ↩
The explanation is printed with the bill as introduced and written by the Legislative Services Agency, the Legislature’s nonpartisan staff. ↩
Written by an AI model from the newest fiscal note. It can miss details; the note itself is what counts. ↩
Fiscal notes are nonpartisan cost estimates from the Legislative Services Agency’s Fiscal Services Division. The newest is listed first. ↩
Code sections are read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. ↩